Design kit



April 11, 1967 l M. l. GLAss ETAL- 3,313,044

DESIGN KIT Filed Nov. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l -Ef' y@ f M. l. GLAss ETAL 3,313,044

DESIGN KIT April 11, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1964 "TH HHH United States Patent O 3,313,044 DESIGN KIT Marvin I. Glass and Burton C. Meyer, Chicago, and Norman T. McFarland, Mayview, Ill., assignors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Ill., a partnership Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,654 8 Claims. (Cl. 35-56) The present invention relates to a dress designers model or manikin of a type which is particularly adaptable for use in a toy dress designer kit. In the use of dolls as toys, the furnishing of a variety of clothes for the doll can become a substantial item, both in the amount of elfort involved in the making of them, and financially, if the clothes are purchased. In the present invention, a doll or manikin is arranged before an opening in a back-up panel so that plain pieces of fabric can be draped about the ligure, pulled back through the opening and clamped by engagement of the ligure with the margins of the opening, so as to stay in .place and simulate a dress or other article of clothing.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a doll or manikin of the type indicated, which is provided with means whereby it may be readily draped with fabric; which will retain the fabric in place in the manner in which it is draped; and which when so draped, will simulate a person dressed in such fabric.

The manner in which these objects are accomplished is fully set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view, taken from the front, and including certain appurtenances;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the ligure and back-up panel;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional View on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in FIGURE 4, with the back-up panel broken away, and with the parts in a different position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a pin;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a simulated purse;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a shoe;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a simulated belt;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a wig or coiffure;

FIGURE 1l is a perspective View of a hat; and

FIGURE 12 is a front elevation of a tucking tool.

Similar reference characters have been applied to the same parts wherever they occur throughout the drawings and specification.

As seen in FIGURE l, the device comprises a standing manikin 20 in the form of a bas-relief ligure carried by a backing or back-up panel or plate 22, the latter being supported on a base 24. In this way a stable support for ligure 20 is obtained. The outfit may include an instruction book 26, and properties such as the table 28 to furnish a somewhat realistic setting for manikin 20. The same may be of any desired size, and serve as a doll, or it may be life size, within the contemplation of the invention, so as to serve as a demonstration device to display fabric samples as they would appear made into a garment. The fabric would be draped and tucked about the figure and held in place by engagement of the ligure with the fabric, the latter being clamped between the ligure and the backing panel.

Base 24 supports panel 22 in such a way that the panel may be inclined to facilitate dressing of the manikin.

For this purpose an opening 30 is pro-vided, preferably at the center of the base, and a sphere-like bearing or mount 32 is disposed in the opening and pivoted thereto on a pin 34 carried on base 24 so that bearing 32 may swing from side to side. A detent spring 36 is supported in opening 30 and has a portion 38 engaged in a notch in bearing 32 to tend to maintain the latter in a predetermined position. Bearing 32 has a pintle 40 which, in the position maintained by detent portion 38, extends substantially vertically.

A sleeve 42 lits rotatively about pintle 40 and has a box-like portion 44 permanently united with panel 22 resting on bearing 32 so that the panel is supported in an erect position from base 24. In the position shown, panel 22 may not tilt from side to side because of engagement of its bottom edges with base 24, and it cannot tilt forward or backward because of engagement of pin 34 with base 24. However, if panel 22 is turned a quarter-turn about pintle 40, it will lie in a plane parallel to pin 34, and panel 22 may then be tilted forward or backward until one of the sto-p faces 45 on bearing 32 strike the edge defining the opening in the center of the platform 24.

Panel 22 has an opening or hole 41 following generally the outline of manikin 20, but preferably, although not necessarily slightly smaller, and extending from about the region of the neck to a ledge 46 at about the level of the ankles, the opening following the outer contour of the legs. The edges of opening 41 are preferably serrated or roughened as at 47 to Aaid in holding a fabricpiece 48. Hinged on a pivot 49 is an auxiliary panel or crotch-piece 5t), contiguous to ledge 46, extending upwardly, and conforming generally with the inner contour of the legs. Crotch-piece 50 is so dimensioned that it may swing forward between leg portions 52 and 54, which constitute what may be termed the lower portion of manikin 20, and project forwardly in a substantially horizontal position as 'seen in FIGURE 5.

Figure 20 also has an upper portion comprising the chest, arms, neck and head, generally designated as 56, the lower or hip portion being designated as S8.

Portion 56 has hinge elements 60 united by' a hinge pin 62 with hinge elements 64 on portion 58, there `being suliicient clearance between portions 56 and 58 so that they may Iboth swing forwardly at once, as best seen in FIGURE 5, the parting between portions 56 and 58 being somewhat below the waist section of the ligure so as to be hidden when the ligure is draped. A lug 66 engaged with hinge pin 62, projects rearwardly through panel 22, and is urged backwardly with substan-tial force by a leaf-spring 68 anchored in the present instance to box 44. While ligure 29 is thus urged forcibly against panel 22, it may be readily pulled forward so that fabric-piece 48 can -be draped about ligure 20 and tucked between it and panel 22, the unused portion extending through the opening or hole 4I.

The above contemplates the bodily displacement of ligure 20 from panel 22, but, by virtue of hinge pin 62 and portions 60 and 64, upper portion 56 or lower portion 58 may be displaced forwardly independently of the other, but the portions are yieldably maintained in position flat against panel 22 by another leaf spring 70, also engaged with lug 66, as well as with lug 72 extending rearwardly from upper portion 56 about lug 66, and with a lug 74 extending rearwardly from lower portion 58 below lug 66. Spring 70 tends to keep ligure 24) straight, but portions 56 and 58 may be inclined forwardly by overcoming spring 70 as shown best in FIG- URE 5, to facilitate ing a fabric-piece about figure 20.

Means is provided for temporarily maintaining ligure 20 spaced from panel 22 as shown in FIGURE 5. A head portion 76 extends upwardly of opening 41 before a solid portion of panel 22, and, preferably opposite the neck of ligure 20, a lug 78 extends 'backwardly through a guide opening 80, so that ligure 20 is prevented from The Iback surface of head portion 76 has a groove 82 in which is enclosed a detent stripv84 which acts as a strut or brace to maintain upper portion 56 tilted forwardly. Strip 34 has an offset por-tion 36 which normally extends through an opening 88 (see also FIGURE 3) and a grip portion 90 which may be grasped for manipulating strip 84. If grip 90 is swung downwardly from the position in FIGURE 4, head portion 76 will be pushed away from panel 22, and offset portion 86 can be readily engaged with the margins of opening 88, as shown in FIGURE 5, so that upper portion 56 is held spaced forwardly to facilitate tucking a fabric-piece thereabout.

Lugs 92 and 94 extend backwardly from the shoulders of figure 20, to assist in holding a fabric-piece in this region, and lugs 96 and 9S extend backwardly from near the extremeties of the arms 100 and 102 of figure 20.

Pivot 49 on 4crotch-piece S0 is supported in brackets 164 and 106 projecting gbackwardly from panel 22 beneath opening 41, and has fixed thereon cam portions 108 and 110 which engage the backs of leg portions 52 and 54 when crotch-piece-Stl is swung down, pushing the legs forward and tilting lower portion S8 about hinge pin 62, thus making it convenient to drHpe a fabric-piece about the legs and tortuck it in through opening 41. When the fabric is in place crotch-piece 50 may be again raised, whereupon it will engage the fabric and finish the draping process to simulate a pants-type garment. At the same time the legs will be released 4to press against panel 22 by the force of springs 68 and 70. The pressure of legs 52 and 54 against cams 108 and 110 yieldingly maintains crotch-piece 50 in its raised position. Crotch-piece 50 is prevented from swinging backwardly beyond the plane of panel 22 by means of a stop piece 112 xed to the backs of legs 52 and 54.

If a skirt is to be simulated, legs 52 and 54 may be pulled forward Iby hand, leaving crotch-piece 50 in place between the legs, and draping the fabric around the outer margins of the legs. Crotch-piece 50, if exposed at all, will appear to be part of panel 22, being finished to match the latter.

To facilitate the tucking operation, especially in the case of a small manikin or doll, a tucking tool 114 may be furnished, comprising a iiat elongated piece of thin stiff material such as plastic, curved or otherwise shaped as desired.

A pin 116, FIGURE 6 is furnished, and which may have an ornamental head 118. Figure 20 is preferably provided with openings as 120 to receive pin 116, but it is also contemplated that the figure may be made of a material soft enough to receive pin 116 anywhere and repeatedly.

A purse frame 122, FIGURE 7 may be covered with fabric, matching or contrasting with that draped on the figure, and has a lug of irregular cross section, 124, which iits in an opening 126 in panel 22 in the region of the lower extremity of arm 102. Frame 122 has a handle portion 128, and a part 130 which carries lug 124 and simulates the edge of the cover or ilap of the purse. When lug 124 is engaged in opening 126, the iigure will appear to be carrying the purse. It is contemplated that other sizes and types of purses will be furnished.

A belt 132, FIGURE 9 is made of resilient material and has inturned ends 134 engaging the back of the iigure, so that belt 132 may be snapped on in the region of the waist, and will stay in place by virtue of its resiliency.

FIGURE l shows a coiture 136, which has a back panel 138 which may be engaged behind head portion 76. One or more lugs 140 may also engage behind head 76 to aid in stabilizing the hair-do.

A hat 142, FIGURE 1l, may be placed on head portion 76, and it is contemplated that a simulated hat may bo provided to t on coiifure 136.

Boots 144, FIGURE 8 may `be tted on the lower extremities of legs 52 and 54, and complete the costuming of the figure.

The operation of the invention is thought to be clear from the above, but it is pointed out that opening 41 in panelr22 makes it possible to drape whole pieces of fabric 48 about the iigureand t-o have them held in place by the pressure of the figure against the margins of the opening. The gure may be held Vspaced in front of the panel to make this easy, but readily released to press back against the panel by reason of the springs engaged with -the back of the figure. Various accessories may be placed on the gure, for amusement or instruction, and, made in large sizes the device would be useful in displaying fabrics,

to show how they might look made up into garments.

Pin 116 may be inserted to give the effect of a brooch, and it is also useful to hold the fabric temporarily while it is being tucked about figure 20. The pin may then be removed if desired; orrit may remain in place as an ornament.

The device may be folded into small compass when not in use by lremoving panel 22 from pin 40.

Variations will doubtless occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention shall not be taken as limited to what is illustrated and described, or in fact in any manner except as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dress designer device comprising a backing panel including means defining an opening generally in the shape of a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs and generally complementary to the opening and positioned on one side of said panel, yielding means connected to said panel and to said body portion and positioned to urge said body portion toward said panel, and spacer means engaged with said panel and with said body portion, positioned to maintain said body portion spaced in front of said panel when desired, said spacer means being shiftable into another position wherein said body portion is free to engage said panel.

2. A dress designer device comprising an upwardly directed backing panel providing a hole generally in the shape ofV a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs complementary to and at least as large as the hole and positioned on Ione side of said panel, spring means connected to said panel and to said body portion and operable to urge said body portion toward said panel, said body portion comprising upper and lower portions hingedly connected together and associated with said spring means so that the upper portion of said body portion may be shifted away from said panel and so that said lower portion may be shifted away from said panel, Awith each body portion being movable independently of the other.

3. A device as specified in claim 2 including spacer means engaged with said upper portion and with said panel for maintaining said upper portion spaced away from said panel, and spacer means engaged with said lower portion and with said panel for maintaining said lower portion spaced away from said panel, each of said spacer means being shiftable into another position wherein its respective body portion is free to engage said panel.

4. A dress designer device comprising an upwardly directed backing panel providing a hole generally in the shape of a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs complementary to and at least as large as the hole and positioned on one side of said panel, yielding means connected to said panel and to said body portion and positioned to urge said body portion toward said panel, a lug on said body portion disposed outside the boundaries of said hole and projecting backwardly from said body portion, and said panel providing a guiding opening in which said lug is slidably engaged to guide said body portion and maintain alignment thereof with said hole. Y

5. A dress'designer device comprising a backing panel providing a hole generally in the shape of a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs complementary to and at least as large as the hole and positioned on one side of said panel, yielding means connected to said panel and to said body portion and positioned to urge said body portion toward said panel, two of said limb portions simulating legs, spread apart in a standing position, and a crotch-plate in the shape of the space between said leg portions, smaller than said space, and means pivotally attaching said crotchplate to said backing panel for movement between said leg portions, said crotch-plate including a cam portion movable into engagement with said limb portions, whereby said crotch-plate is movable forwardly to cam said limb portions away from said backing panel.

6. A device according to claim 5 including hinge means attaching said crotch-plate to said backing panel in the neighborhood of the lower extremities of said leg portions, whereby said crotch-plate may swing forwardly between said leg portions for a fabric-piece to be draped about said leg portions, said crotch-plate being swingable backwardly between said leg portions to pick up the fabric and carry it between said leg portions to simulate a pants-type garment.

7. A dress designer device comprising an upwardly directed backing panel providing a hole generally in the shape of a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs complementary to and at least as large as the hole and positioned on yone side of said panel, yielding means connected to said panel and to said body portion and positioned to urge said body portion toward said panel, spacer means engaged with said panel and with said body portion and positionable to maintain said body portion spaced in front of said panel, said spacer means being shiftable to another position wherein said body portion is in a position to engage said panel, a base portion, pivot means connected with said base portion and with said panel and supporting Ysaid panel from said base portion for rotation relative to said base.

8. A dress designer device comprising an upwardly directed backing panel, a base on which said panel is supported, said panel providing a hole generally in the shape of a human torso and limbs, a body portion in the form of a human torso and limbs, at least as large as said hole, and positioned on one side of said panel, a 4hinge piece at the hip region of said body portion having a pivot pin extending in a direction transverse to the length of said body portion and entirely on the same side of said panel as said body portion, said body portion being divided in the region of said pivot pin into an upper portion pivoted to said pivot pin and a lower portion pivoted to said pivot pin, whereby said upper and lower portions are pivoted together, said hinge piece extending rearwardly through said hole, spring means engaged with said backing panel and with said hinge piece and positioned to bias said hinge piece toward the rear of said backing panel, and spring means engaged with said upper portion and with said lower portion and positioned to bias said upper and lower -portions toward alignment in a standing position, whereby said body portion is yieldingly pressed backwardly against the boundaries of said hole so that any fabric draped about the front of said body portion will be held in place by contact with the body portion and with the edges of said hole to give the effect of clothing on said body portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,273,945 7/1918 Sooy 46-157 1,685,358 9/1928 Harcourt 35-56 X 2,381,663 8/ 1945 Greneker 35-59 2,654,512 10/1953 Weiser 223-56 2,965,981 12/1960 Giovetti 35-56 3,010,225 11/1961 Hale 35-56 3,102,360 9/1963 Doyle 46-157 3,197,093 7/1965 Doran 223-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 695,978 9/ 1940 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DRESS DESIGNER DEVICE COMPRISING A BACKING PANEL INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING GENERALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN TORSO AND LIMBS, A BODY PORTION IN THE FORM OF A HUMAN TORSO AND LIMBS AND GENERALLY COMPLEMENTARY TO THE OPENING AND POSITIONED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PANEL, YIELDING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PANEL AND TO SAID BODY PORTION AND POSITIONED TO URGE SAID BODY PORTION TOWARD SAID PANEL, AND SPACER MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID PANEL AND WITH SAID BODY PORTION, POSITIONED TO MAINTAIN SAID BODY PORTION SPACED IN FRONT OF SAID PANEL WHEN DESIRED, SAID SPACER MEANS BEING SHIFTABLE INTO ANOTHER POSITION WHEREIN SAID BODY PORTION IS FREE TO ENGAGE SAID PANEL. 